This wine is a pre arrival, with estimated arrival of mid spring. 

José Gil grew up in San Vicente de la Sonsierra in the Rioja Alta where his family has grown grapes for generations. José Gil’s wines are based off of an ancient, simpler style of whole-cluster, co-fermented wines aged for short periods before release. The wines feel bare of conceit. José purchased an old cave on the outskirts of San Vicente in 2011 used to age wines for generations before. He began farming two vineyards nearby and in 2017 was joined by his partner Vicky Fernández. They’ve purchased new vineyards and a winery in recent years. Currently, they farm 5 hectares near the villages of San Vicente, Labastida, and Briones. All of the vineyard work is done manually and the vines are farmed organically. The vines range in age from 5-130 years, mostly of tempranillo, with a small portions of viura. The oldest vines also have garnacha and palomino sprinkled through. José Gil’s wines are not only stunningly subtle and delicious but also serve as a fascinating look back in time at what the paisanos would have been drinking in the hills of Rioja Alta some centuries before.

Viñedos en Labastida comes from two vineyards in Labastida. The first vineyard is 45 year olds and the second is 80. The vines comprise mostly tempranillo with a small percentage of garnacha and some white varietals. The wines are hand-harvested, destemmed, and co-ferment in concrete tanks before aging in oak barrels for 10 months. This wine is like crushed plums and violets lade out upon a carpet of herbs. The core of chalk gives it structure and the acid makes for a bright freshness that echoes on in the finish.

James Suckling 94

“Full-bodied and powdery, with chalky tannins and tension that give it al-dente texture and freshness. Reactive, pristine and long. Around 15% to 20% whole clusters. Lots of energy. Drink from 2025.”